Subject: Ancocisconensis Tiger Beetle, Cicindela ancocisconensis

Location: Monongahela National Forest, Randolph County, West Virginia

Stock Number: 2703

Comments:  The Latin name of this species is a real mouthful. Unfortunately no common name is in widespread use.

This one is a riverine species. I found mine along Shaver's Fork, a pretty sizable river in Randolph County. Look for it along dry sandy river banks, also on sandbars and river islands.

The elytra are brown, but the beetle gives off a green and violet metallic sheen in the right light, especially on the legs and the pronotum. The markings shown in the photograph are typical, but as always there may be some variation. This middle band is notable for continuing a ways along the margins of the elytra. This middle band may be broken, leaving an isolated spot, as in the photo above. In other cases the middle band will be intact.

According to Thomas J. Allen and Robert E. Acciavatti who studied this species, it has not been reported from any of the western counties of the state, nor from the eastern side of the Eastern Panhandle.

Nationwide the species has been reported from the southern Appalachians and from the mountains of New England; oddly, it seems to be missing from the mountains of Pennsylvania and New York. It has been reported from scattered localities in Indiana and Ohio.

Subject: Purple Tiger Beetle, Cicindela purpurea

Location: Monongahela National Forest, Randolph County, West Virginia

Stock Number: 2272

Comments: Though the Latin name does translate as Purple Tiger Beetle, folks have repeatedly pointed out that this species only sometimes includes purple coloration. Some writers have proposed the common name Cowpath Tiger Beetle as an alternative. This name describes the kinds of sites where you might locate a Cicindela purpurea.

In West Virginia this species is purple, purplish, or greenish-purple. It may have the edges of its wing covers (the elytra) green down both sides. There is no humeral lunule, while there is just a small dash making up the apical mark. The middle band does not reach the edges of the wing cover.

In West Virginia, look for this species in late Spring or late summer especially; you probably won't find it in mid-Summer. The beetles can be seen hunting along dirt paths surrounded by grassy areas and not far a way from woods. You're most likely to find it in the Eastern part of the state, particularly in highland areas.

On a more continental scale this beetle is widespread though not common. It has been observed from Nova Scotia to Mississippi, from Arizona to British Columbia.

I photographed this one near Cheat Bridge in Randolph County, in the Monongahela National Forest.

Subject: Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle, Cicindela sexguttata

Location: Near Ruraldale, Upshur County, West Virginia

Stock Number: 1027

Comments: This may or may not be the most commonly seen Tiger Beetle in West Virginia, but certainly it is the one people notice most often. Its bright green color makes it noticed, and it frequents the same places that people frequent—sidewalks, roads, and paths. Note however that these beetles are seldom far from woods.

This species is easy to identify. If you see a bright green metallic Tiger Beetle with whitish spots, you have Cicindela sexguttata. Any other green Tiger Beetle species found in the Eastern United States would likely be less brilliant, and would have bars or dashes rather than spots.

Note that uncommonly, in some areas, this species may be bluish. Also, individuals are occasionally found without the spots.

What's going on in the photo above? These two individuals aren't mating, but they may be engaged in behavior preliminary to mating. Alternatively, this may be a case of mate guarding. In many species of insect, males stay with the females after mating and until the eggs are laid. In this way a male insures that other males don't mate with the female until the eggs he fertilized are safely laid.